Electrical connector with dual-function protrusions

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector ( 1 ) for connecting a land grid array (LGA) chip with a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a housing ( 10 ), and terminals ( 11 ) received in passageways ( 104 ) of the housing. The housing has a base ( 100 ) and sidewalls ( 12, 14 ), the base and the sidewalls cooperatively defining a space therebetween for retaining the LGA chip. The base has a multiplicity of walls respectively between every two adjacent passageways along a length thereof, and four raised portions ( 102 ) extending upwardly around the base. A multiplicity of protrusions ( 106 ) is respectively extended upwardly from the walls. When a force is exerted down the LGA chip to make the LGA chip engage with the terminals, the protrusions and the four raised portions can support the force for separate the force without making the LGA chip deforming downwardly. This ensures that engagement between the connector and the LGA chip is accurate and reliable.

This is a continuation of the application Ser. No. 10/894,735.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical connector for electrically connecting an electronic package such as a land grid array (LGA) chip with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB), and particularly to a connector having protrusions that minimize the risk of accidental damage to the associated electronic package.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Land grid array (LGA) electrical connectors are widely used in the connector industry for electrically connecting LGA chips to printed circuit boards (PCBs) in personal computers (PCs). As described in “Nonlinear Analysis Helps Design LGA Connectors” (Connector Specifier, February 2001, pp. 18-20), the LGA connector mainly comprises an insulative housing and a multiplicity of terminals. The housing comprises a multiplicity of terminal passageways defined therein in a generally rectangular array for interferentially receiving corresponding terminals. Due to the very high density of the terminal array in a typical LGA chip, the LGA chip need to be precisely seated on the LGA connector to ensure reliable signal transmission between the terminals and the LGA chip. Means for accurately attaching the LGA chip to the LGA connector are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,504,105, 4,621,884, 4,692,790, 5,302,853 and 5,344,334.

Referring to FIG. 8, a conventional connector 6 comprises an insulative housing 60 and a multiplicity of terminals 61 received therein. In forming the connector 6, a carrier strip (not shown) comprises a row of the terminals 61, and a row of connecting sections 610 respectively connecting the terminals 61 with a main body of the carrier strip. The housing 60 comprises four raised sidewalls 62, and a flat base 63 disposed between the four raised sidewalls 62. Four raised portions 630 are disposed upwardly around the flat base 63. Two opposite of the sides 62 each have a sloped surface that slants down toward the raised portion 630. The base 63 and the sidewalls 62 cooperatively define a space therebetween for receiving an LGA chip (not shown) therein. The base 63 defines a multiplicity of terminal passageways 64 for receiving the terminals 61 therein. When the LGA chip is seated on the LGA connector 6, the four raised portions 630 and the four sidewalls 62 can securely engage the LGA chip therebeon and therebetween. The sloped surfaces provide additional space to manipulate a carrier strip to allow easy cutting off of connecting sections 610 from their corresponding terminals 61. However, the sloped surfaces diminish the original advantage of the sides 62 being raised. That is, a reduced surface area of the sides 62 is available to retain the LGA chip therebetween. This can adversely affect the reliability of signal transmission between the terminals 61 and the LGA chip.

FIG. 9 shows another conventional LGA connector 6′ devised to overcome the above-described problem. The LGA connector 6′ comprises a housing 60′ and a multiplicity of terminals 61′ received therein. A carrier strip (not shown) comprises a row of the terminals 61′, and a row of connecting sections 610′ respectively connecting the terminals 61′ with a main body of the carrier strip. The housing 60′ comprises a flat base 63′ and four raised sides 62′ surrounding the base 63′. Four raised portions 630′ are disposed upwardly around the base 63′. The base 63′ defines a square central cavity 631′ therein, and a multiplicity of terminal passageways 64′ regularly arranged in a generally rectangular array for interferentially receiving corresponding terminals 61′ therein. Two opposite of the sides 62′ each define a multiplicity of evenly spaced recesses 621′ therein, thereby forming a multiplicity of evenly spaced projections 620′. Each recess 621′ is bounded at a bottom thereof by a sloped surface of the sidewall 62′, such that an inner portion of the recess 621′ is disposed lower than an outer portion thereof. Accordingly, a side elevation cross section of each projection 620′ is trapezium-shaped. When terminals 61′ are installed near the projections 620′, a common carrier strip connecting the terminals 61′ is bent down so that connecting sections 610′ of the carrier strip are received in corresponding recesses 621′. Junction portions between the terminals 61′ and their respective connecting sections 610′ are cut, and a main body of the carrier strip having the connecting sections 610′ is removed. The recesses 621′ enable the carrier strip to be manipulated so that sufficient space is made available for cutting off of the connecting sections 610′ without interfering with the sidewall 62′ thereat. The projections 620′ and the four raised portions 630′ provide precise fitting positioning of the LGA chip therebetween and thereon. However, when a force is exerted down on the LGA chip to make each pad (not shown) of the LGA chip engage with the terminal 61′, the force is only supported by the four raised portions 630′ around the base 63′, which will make the middle portion of the LGA chip deformable downward. This can adversely affect the reliability of signal transmission between the terminals 61′ and the LGA chip.

Therefore, a new LGA electrical connector which overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for electrically connecting an electronic package such as an LGA chip with a circuit substrate such as a PCB, whereby the electrical connector having protrusions that minimize the risk of accidental damage to the associated electronic package.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having protrusions that securely lead terminals of the connector into true position engaging with the electronic package.

To achieve the above objects, an electrical connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is for connecting a land grid array (LGA) chip with a printed circuit board (PCB). The connector includes an insulative housing, and a plurality of terminals received in a plurality of passageways defined in the housing. The housing has a flat base and sidewalls extending upwardly from the base, the base and the sidewalls cooperatively defining a space therebetween for retaining the LGA chip therein. The base has a multiplicity of walls respectively between every two adjacent passageways along a length thereof, and four raised portions extending upwardly around the base. A multiplicity of protrusions is respectively extended upwardly from the walls. Two opposite of the sidewalls each define a multiplicity of evenly spaced recesses therein, thereby forming a multiplicity of evenly spaced projections.

When terminals are installed near the projections, a common carrier strip connecting the terminals is bent down so that connecting sections of the carrier strip are received in corresponding recesses. Junction portions between the terminals and their respective connecting sections are cut, and a main body of the carrier strip having the connecting sections is removed. The recesses enable the carrier strip to be manipulated so that sufficient space is made available for cutting off of the connecting sections without interfering with the sidewall thereat. The projections provide precise fitting positioning of the LGA chip in the space. In addition, when a force is exerted down on the LGA chip to make the LGA chip engage with the terminals, the protrusions and the four raised portions can support the force for separate the force without making the LGA chip deforming downwardly. Furthermore, when the force is exerted on the LGA chip to make the terminals engage with pads of the LGA chip, the protrusions can prevent the terminals moving from right-and-left for lead the terminals into true position connecting with the pads of the LGA chip. This ensures that engagement between the connector and the LGA chip is accurate and reliable.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified, exploded isometric view of an LGA electrical connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a circled portion II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the connector;

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6, but shown an LGA chip mounted onto the connector;

FIG. 8 is a simplified, exploded isometric view of a conventional LGA electrical connector; and

FIG. 9 is a simplified, exploded isometric view of another conventional LGA electrical connector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an LGA electrical connector 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is used for electrically connecting an electronic package such as a land grid array (LGA) central processing unit (CPU) 2 with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown). The connector 1 comprises an insulative housing 10 and a multiplicity of terminals 11 received in the housing 10. A carrier strip (not shown) comprises a row of the terminals 11, and a row of connecting sections (not labelled) respectively connecting the terminals 11 with a main body of the carrier strip. The terminal 11 comprises a retaining portion 113 received in the housing 10, a spring arm 114 extending slantingly upwardly from a top end of the retaining portion 113. An arcuate contacting portion 111 is defined at a distal end of the spring arm 114, for resiliently electrically contacting a corresponding conductive pad 20 of the LGA chip 2 (see FIG. 6). A elbow 115 is formed in a middle portion of the spring arm 114.

The housing 10 is substantially rectangular. The housing 10 comprises two opposite first sidewalls 12, two opposite second sidewalls 14 interconnecting the first sidewalls 12, and a flat base 100 disposed between the first and second sidewalls 12, 14. The base 100 and first and second sidewalls 12, 14 cooperatively define a space therebetween for receiving the LGA chip 2 therein. The base 100 defines a square central cavity 103 therein, and a multiplicity of terminal passageways 104 regularly arranged in a generally rectangular array for interferentially receiving corresponding terminals 11 therein. The base 100 has a multiplicity of walls (not shown) respectively between every two adjacent passageways 104 along a length thereof, and four raised portions 102 extending upwardly around the base 100. A multiplicity of protrusions 106 is respectively extended upwardly from the walls. A side elevation cross section of each protrusion 106 is any shape, in the preferred embodiment, is trapezium-shaped. A height of the raised portion 102 is the same as that of the protrusion 106. A top surface of the protrusion 106 each is higher than the elbow 115 of the spring arm 114 of the terminal 11. When a force is exerted down on the LGA chip 2 to make pads 20 of the LGA chip 2 engage with the terminals 11, the force is supported by the protrusions 106 and the four raised portions 102.

The first sidewalls 12 each define a multiplicity of evenly spaced recesses 123 therein, thereby forming a multiplicity of evenly spaced projections 120. Each recess 123 is bounded at a bottom thereof by a sloped surface of the first sidewall 12, such that an inner portion of the recess 123 is disposed lower than an outer portion thereof. Accordingly, a side elevation cross section of each projection 120 is trapezium-shaped. The projection 120 comprises an inmost vertical first surface 121, a top second surface 122, and a chamfered surface between the first surface 121 and the second surface 122. Two blocks 140 are respectively formed on opposite inner faces of the second sidewalls 14. The LGA chip 2 can be guidably fixed between the blocks 140 and the first surfaces 121 of the first sidewalls 12.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, in assembly of the LGA connector 1, firstly the housing 10 is molded. The carrier strip is positioned above the base 100 of the housing 10, parallel and close to the first surfaces 121 of the projections 120 of one first sidewall 12. The carrier strip is moved downwardly, so that the terminals 11 are received into corresponding terminal passageways 104 of the housing 10. The connecting sections of the carrier strip are located above the passageways 104, parallel to the first surfaces 121 of the projections 120 and opposite corresponding recesses 123 of the first sidewall 12. The carrier strip is bent down toward the first sidewall 12, so that the connecting sections of the carrier strip are received in the corresponding recesses 123. Junction portions between the terminals 11 and their respective connecting sections are cut, and the main body of the carrier strip having the connecting sections is removed. The above procedure is repeated as necessary for one or more other carrier strips at either or both of the first sidewalls 12. Thus, assembly of the LGA connector 1 is completed. The recesses 123 enable the carrier strip to be manipulated so that sufficient space is made available for cutting off of the connecting sections without interfering with the first sidewall 12.

Referring to FIGS. 5-7, when a force is exerted down on the LGA chip 2 to make each pad 20 of the LGA chip 2 engage with the contacting portion 111 of the corresponding terminal 11, the force is supported and separated by the four raised portions 102 and the protrusions 106 of the walls to protect the LGA chip 2 from distortion or damage should it sustain unduly large force. This can ensure that engagement between the connector 1 and the LGA chip 2 is accurate and reliable. In addition, because the protrusion 106 is extended upwardly from the wall, the elbow 115 of the spring arm 114 of the terminal 11 is lower than the top surface of the protrusion 106, when the force is exerted on the LGA chip 2 to make the spring arm 114 deform downwardly, two adjacent protrusions 106 can prevent the spring arm 114 from moving right-and-left and lead the contacting portion 111 into true position connecting with the pad 20 of the LGA chip 2.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various alterations and modifications can be made to the embodiments without in any way departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. An electrical connector for connecting an electronic package with a circuit substrate, the electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing having a base and sidewalls extending upwardly from the base, the base and the sidewalls cooperatively defining a space therebetween for receiving the electronic package therein, the base defining a generally rectangular array of passageways, a plurality of walls each formed respectively between every two adjacent passageways, and at least two raised portions extending upwardly and adjoining the sidewalls of the housing respectively, a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from an upper face of the corresponding walls between every two adjacent passageways for upwardly confronting the electronic package; and a plurality of conductive terminals received in the passageways of the housing, respectively, and defining a contact engaging arm extending beyond said corresponding protrusions from a side view.
 2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height of the protrusions is the same as that of the raised portions.
 3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cross-section of each of the protrusions is trapezoidal.
 4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises a retaining portion received in the housing, and a spring arm extending slantingly upwardly from a top end of the retaining portion, an elbow being formed in a middle portion of the spring arm.
 5. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein two opposite sidewalls each define a multiplicity of evenly spaced recesses therein, thereby forming a multiplicity of evenly spaced projections.
 6. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein an inner portion of each of the recesses is disposed lower than an outer portion thereof.
 7. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the projections comprises an inmost first surface for abutting the electronic package, a top second surface parallel to the base, and a chamfered surface between the first surface and the second surface.
 8. An electrical connector for connecting an electronic package with a circuit substrate, the electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing having a base and sidewalls extending upwardly from the base, the base and the sidewalls cooperatively defining a space therebetween for receiving the electronic package therein, the base defining a plurality of passageways, a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from an upper face of the housing around the corresponding passageways, respectively; and a plurality of conductive terminals received in the passageways of the housing, respectively, for upwardly facing the electronic package; wherein upper contacting portions of the terminals originally extend above said corresponding protrusions, respectively, while downwardly deflected to be not only laterally, relative to an extension direction thereof, offset from the protrusions without interference in a top view, and further flush, in a vertical direction, with the protrusions by said electronic package when said electronic package is seated upon said protrusion.
 9. An electrical connector for connecting an electronic package with a circuit substrate, the electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing having a base with a space above an upper face of said base for receiving the electronic package therein, the base defining a plurality of passageways in rows and columns, said upper face forming a plurality of protrusions thereon around the corresponding passageways, respectively, for upwardly facing the electronic package; and a plurality of conductive terminals received in the passageways of the housing, respectively, each of the terminals defining an upper contact portion at an end for contacting the electronic package; wherein said upper contact portion is essentially located outside of the corresponding passageway and extends in a direction offset from the corresponding protrusion so as to be located beside the corresponding protrusion from a top view, and said protrusions are respectively located between the corresponding terminals and the neighboring terminals for isolation and anti-misplacement consideration.
 10. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein said protrusion is dimensioned to be high enough as a protection device for sharing forces from said electronic package with the terminals.
 11. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said terminals defines an extending section oblique to directions defined by said rows and sand columns so as to have the terminal offset from the protrusion of the corresponding passageway or that of the neighboring passageway without interference.
 12. The connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein said protrusions are discrete from each other, and each of said protrusions is located about one corresponding passageway.
 13. The connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said protrusion is offset from the corresponding terminal from a top view of the housing.
 14. The connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the passageways are arranged in rows and columns, and at least a portion of each of the terminals extends oblique to directions defined by said rows and columns. 